Guernsey Press

Resurfaced Market Street ‘attractive and accessible’

A £249,000 project to enhance Market Street is now complete.

Published
Left to right: St Peter Port senior constable Dennis Le Moignan, Jack Gervaise-Brazier, owner of The Golden Lion and Sonia Taylor of Bailiwick Estates walk along the new granite surface in Market Street. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 25122633)

Environment & Infrastructure’s project aims to improve pedestrian safety, provide a natural link through to the Old Quarter and to increase the overall accessibility of the area.

The new surface has been laid with granite and is all on one level to make it more suitable for all, including those with disabilities and pushchairs.

Businesses along Market Street are able to take advantage to have outdoor seating with a new al fresco licence secured in the past few weeks.

A seating area is planned at the Mill Street end to draw people towards the Old Quarter. A quote from Victor Hugo celebrating Guernsey has also been incorporated into the design.

Adrian Vidamour, a wheelchair user, said: ‘We are impressed with what we have seen – nice slabs to wheel across, no trouble at all.’

Sonia Taylor, director of Bailiwick Estates Ltd, managing agents of the Market Buildings and Market Square, said: ‘We are thrilled with the look of the new road surface. Often we would see visitors not proceed into Market Street as the asphalt surface and parked cars visible gave the impression of the end of the retail area of Town. There has been a marked increase in footfall towards the Old Quarter and we really hope that with additional directional signage the area will see more people.

Jack Gervaise-Brazier, owner of The Golden Lion and The Juggling King Rum Company, said: ‘I am absolutely thrilled with the vision and commitment from the various service areas within the States that has allowed this project of the new road surfacing in Market Street and up to the bottom of Mill Street to happen. The impacts have visually and in terms of people and dynamics in the area been immediately felt. Tourists are now more attracted to the whole area, right past The Golden Lion and are actively going right up into Mill Street.

‘The traffic dangers to children walking in the area have been reduced and it seems to have really lifted the atmosphere of the people using the area.’

Deputy Sarah Hansmann-Rouxel, E&I member and disability champion, said: ‘The positive feedback on the finished result reflects that the area is now more attractive and, importantly, a more accessible area for all.’

The total budget was £249,000, which included: removing the old surface; laying the new surface; all materials needed to complete the work; equipment; and new lighting.

Although the final costs have not been calculated, it is expected to come in under budget.

The start of the project was delayed by two weeks and took a total of 14 and a half weeks to complete.